Groton still weighing decision on future of school superintendent

Groton - Following an executive session Monday night, the Board of Education did not make any decisions on the fate of either Superintendent of Schools Paul Kadri or interim Superintendent Randy Collins, who has held the post since May, when Kadri was placed on paid administrative leave.

The first item scheduled for executive session was a status update on the investigation into Kadri, who has been away from the district since early May, when the board voted unanimously to put him on paid leave pending an inquiry into his "interactions with and treatment of district employees."

Also scheduled for executive session was a discussion of the contract with Collins, which runs through the end of the month.

Chairwoman Kirsten Hoyt said after the meeting that the next discussion on the issues could come at the Aug. 27 meeting of the Committee of the Whole. She could not say whether a decision would be made before the start of the school year, which begins Aug. 29.

Little has been said publicly about the investigation into Kadri, who has served as the town's superintendent since 2008.

Before the executive session, board member Chaz Zezulka offered strong criticism against an unidentified board member who he said last month leaked to The Day a confidential email related to the superintendent issue.

He said if he had "hardcore proof" of who that member was, he would propose to censure or reprimand that member for "causing great harm" to the board and its mission.

The confidential email was discussed during executive session on July 16, he said, and items discussed in such a session are confidential to the point "you do not even reveal to your spouse what goes on in executive session."

"I consider it a serious breach of public trust," he said. Because of the leak, Zezulka said, "I will not vote to go into executive session and never will vote to go in because one person has destroyed that trust."

Board member Robert Peruzzotti also spoke about the leak, saying it is "common sense" not to reveal confidential information and that "whoever did it should just resign."

The email in question was written by school board attorney Floyd Dugas and sent to board members. Dugas expressed concern that Kadri might retaliate against the school board and witnesses if the board tries to fire him.